1928 Hamilton state by-election

1928 Hamilton state by-election

←  1927 8 September 1928 1930  →
Electoral district of Hamilton in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Registered	17,398
Turnout	70.9% ( 14.1)
First party Second party   Candidate James Smith Walter Skelton Party Labor Protestant Labour Primary  vote 5,851 4,851 Percentage 48.0% 38.8% Swing 10.6 31.5 TCP 51.2% 48.8% TCP swing 51.2 48.8
MP before election David Murray Labor Elected MP James Smith Labor

The 1928 Hamilton state by-election was held on 8 September 1928 to elect the member for Hamilton in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, following the death of Labor Party MP David Murray. ^{[1] [2]}

Hamilton had been won by Labor with 58.6% of the vote when it was first contested at the 1927 state election. ^[3] However, Labor lost more than 10% of its vote at the by-election and only narrowly retained the seat against Protestant Independent Labour Party candidate Walter Skelton, with James Smith elected with 51.2% of the two-candidate-preferred vote. ^{[4] [5]} Skelton would have likely won if all Nationalist Party voters exercised their second preferences, something they were not required to do under the optional preferential voting system. ^{[6] [7]}

Key events

• 8 May 1928 − David Murray died ^[8]
• 14 August 1928 − Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly ^[9]
• 21 August 1928 − Candidate nominations ^{[10] [11]}
• 8 September 1928 − Polling day
• 21 September 1928 − Return of writ

Candidates

Party		Candidate	Background
	Nationalist	Henry Cornish	Alderman on Newcastle Municipal Council and former mayor of Newcastle [12] [13] [14]
	Independent Labor [15] [16]	James Iceton	Mining check inspector who had contested Labor preselection [17] [18] [19]
	Protestant Labour	Walter Skelton	Former MP for Newcastle [20] [21]
	Labor	James Smith	Bricklayer and union official [22] [23]

Result

1928 Hamilton state by-election ^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	James Smith	5,851	48.0	−10.6
	Protestant Labour	Walter Skelton	4,851	38.8	+31.5
	Nationalist	Henry Cornish	1,468	12.0	−8.5
	Independent Labor	James Iceton	23	0.2	+0.2
Total formal votes			12,193	98.9	+1.0
Informal votes			140	1.1	−1.0
Turnout			12,333	70.9	−14.1
Two-candidate-preferred result
	Labor	James Smith	5,968	51.2	+51.2
	Protestant Labour	Walter Skelton	5,684	48.8	+48.8
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

See also

• Electoral results for the district of Hamilton
• List of New South Wales state by-elections

References

1. "Member for Hamilton Dead". The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser. 7 August 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
2. "WITH LIQUOR POLL?". Evening News. 7 August 1928. p. 10. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
3. Green, Antony. "Hamilton - 1927". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
4. "Labour Candidate Wins". The Argus. 12 September 1928. p. 6. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
5. "Smith Wins". Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative. 13 September 1928. p. 33. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
6. "Labor Retains Seat". The Australian Worker. 12 September 1928. p. 12. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
7. "LABOR WINS". National Advocate. 12 September 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
8. "DEATH OF DAVID MURRAY M.L.A." The Richmond River Express and Casino Kyogle Advertiser. 6 August 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
9. "WRIT OF ELECTION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 14 August 1928. p. 3811. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
10. "FOUR CANDIDATES". Daily Examiner. 22 August 1928. p. 5. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
11. "THREE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR THE HAMILTON VACANCY". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 August 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
12. "Ald. Cornish's Charge". The Newcastle Sun. 17 February 1928. p. 5. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
13. "NATIONALIST CANDIDATE". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 August 1928. p. 15. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
14. "HAMILTON BY-ELECTION". Daily Examiner. 22 August 1928. p. 4. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
15. "HAMILTON ELECTION". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 12 September 1928. p. 8. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
16. "MR SMITH ELECTED". Singleton Argus. 13 September 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
17. "Last Minute Nomination". The Telegraph. 22 August 1928. p. 12. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
18. "NOMINATIONS CLOSE". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 22 August 1928. p. 7. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
19. "CHECK INSPECTOR SUSPENDED". Northern Star. 29 August 1928. p. 9. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
20. "HAMILTON BY-ELECTION". Sydney Morning Herald. 18 August 1928. p. 18. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
21. "MR. SKELTON A CANDIDATE". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 18 August 1928. p. 5. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
22. "Mr. J. E. Smith Selected". The Newcastle Sun. 20 August 1928. p. 5. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
23. "Mr James Edward SMITH (1887 - 1962)". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
24. Green, Antony. "Hamilton - By-election 1928". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.